After the 2015 model year, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution will officially say goodbye. But until then, it remains one of the few street racer options out on the market. Critics rightfully say it shows its age, as this model hasn't been redesigned since 2008 and lacks some of the basic features we expect from new cars. Its simplicity remains one of its charms, but also a major downfall.
While it may look like the kind of car your daughter's bad news boyfriend would roll up in, it definitely doesn't fit that stereotype. Our model totaled nearly $40,000, which gets rid of that teenage boy appeal. We liked a few things about this model, but we think most buyers will want to look elsewhere in the sports sedan segment.
Model and Price
We drove the Lancer Evolution GSR, which starts at $34,995 and is equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. Our model tacked on the Sunroof & Leather package, which adds—guess what—a sunroof and leather seats, as well as heated seat functions, upgraded center console, and sound dampening for a quieter cabin. We also had the Sight & Sound package, which delivers a Rockford premium sound system and keyless entry. When factoring in a destination fee, the total cost of our model came to $39,590.
Safety and Key Features
Unfortunately, the 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo has not been crash tested by the government. Standard safety features on the Lancer Evo include front airbags, front seat mounted side aribags, side curtain airbags, knee airbags, and adjustable rear headrests. Regular Lancer models achieve an overall rating of four stars in crash tests.
Standard features on the Lancer Evo are limited. The car includes a leather wrapped steering wheel, an outdated touchscreen display, Fuse Handsfree Link system, and three months of SiriusXM. Standard front Recaro sport seats were our favorite feature. Our least favorite things? The car has a tilt-only steering wheel and manually adjustable seats with no adjustment for height.
Family Friendliness and Utility
We can think of plenty sedans that fit the needs of families, but the Lancer Evo would not be one of them. Seats in the back have limited legroom, rendering them fit for only young children. The back seats can't be folded down for more room, which limits cargo space to the paltry 7 cubic feet located in the trunk. Since our model had the upgraded stereo system with the ginormous subwoofer in the trunk, room was limited further. Those looking for more room should opt for the regular Lancer, or a host of other sedans like the Mazda3 or Honda Accord.
Comfort and Quality
As we mentioned earlier, the front seat can be pushed forward and back, but cannot be adjusted according to height. At my 5'3" frame, I couldn’t find a comfortable seating position in this car. The seats themselves are comfortable and supportive, so while we wouldn't be comfortable while actually driving, we would be semi-comfortable taking a nap.
The main problem we had with this car's interior is that it is too expensive for what you get. For nearly $40,000, you are paying for a car that looks 10 years old. Cheap plastics, an outdated radio, and other unrefined touches reduce this car's appeal. We much prefer the look and feel of the Subaru WRX STI, even models that are a few years older
